Lancer vs Slugblaster
Compare Lancer and Slugblaster side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Lancer | Slugblaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Scifi | Scifi |
| Play Style | Tactical, Mecha, Grid-Based, Character Building, Combat-Heavy, Heroic, Crunchy | Narrative, Rules-Light, Cinematic, Fast-Paced, Gonzo, Character-Driven, Comedy |
| Core Mechanic | Narrative scenes use d20 roll-over (10+ succeeds), with backgrounds granting advantage and triggers adding flat bonuses. Mech combat is grid-based and tactical — no initiative, players and NPCs alternate turns. Pilots progress through License Levels (LL0–LL12), unlocking new chassis, weapons, and systems across five manufacturers with 30+ mech frames. | Forged in the Dark — roll a d6 dice pool and take the highest: 6 is a success, 4–5 is a partial success, 1–3 is a failure. No attributes or skills — instead, spend Boost to add dice. Kick lets you push your luck for Style Points by adding flair to any action. Style Points fuel advancement and reputation. Trouble tracks escalate consequences from parents, school, and interdimensional authorities. |
| Dice | d20 + d6 | d6 dice pool |
| Complexity | High | Low |
| Accessibility | High | High |
| Community | Medium | Low |
| License | Lancer Third Party License | Forged in the Dark |
| Cost | Free (PDF) / $$ | $$ |
| Publisher | Massif Press | Wilkie's Candy Lab (Mikey Hamm) |
| Year | 2019 | 2022 |
| Best For | Groups who want deep tactical mech combat with meaningful customization layered on top of accessible narrative play — giant robot enthusiasts seeking a modern alternative to BattleTech. | Groups who want fast-paced, irreverent adventures about teenagers hoverboarding through alternate dimensions, doing tricks, getting sponsorships, and avoiding getting grounded. |
| Highlights | Free core PDF, extensive mech customization with 30+ frames, clean split between rules-light narrative and crunchy tactical combat, Comp/Con companion app is well-integrated, active community | Combines teen drama with dimension-hopping action sports, Kick mechanic adds dice for adding flair to actions, Indie Groundbreaker Game of the Year winner, Trouble tracks escalate consequences from parents and authorities without lethal combat |
| Considerations | Mech combat dominates — narrative half feels thin by comparison, steep learning curve from sheer volume of mech options, genre-locked to sci-fi mech fiction, requires grid/VTT for combat | Narrow genre focused on teenage hoverboard adventures, no attributes or skills — characters differentiate through playsheet and narrative choices only, five playsheets (Grit, Guts, Smarts, Heart, Chill) limit build variety, tone is specifically absurdist teen action |